What is the best month to prune apricot trees? What is the best pruning time and method?

Apricot tree pruning time

Apricot trees grow relatively vigorously and can be pruned in all four seasons of the year, but with different focuses. The first suggestion is to prune in May and June, which can be beneficial to later growth. Another time to prune is in winter, when the growth rate is relatively slow and has less impact on the plant itself.

How to prune apricot trees

1. Young tree stage:

For young trees that are not growing well, they need to be pruned using the pruning method. The dense and weak branches should be cut off, and the strong branches should be retained. Through pruning, nutrient consumption can be reduced, and nutrients can be accumulated to ensure the later growth needs.

2. Fruiting period:

Pruning during this period is mainly to increase the fruit setting rate. The newly grown branches should be pinched and pruned multiple times to improve light transmittance.

3. Peak fruiting period:

When it comes to the peak fruit-bearing period, it is necessary to prune the branches according to their specific conditions to ensure strong branches. The side branches should be cut back at this position to restore their growth and promote the production of strong branches to achieve the purpose of increasing production.

Apricot tree pruning precautions

After pruning the apricot tree, the cut should be cleaned and disinfected in time to avoid infection of the cut, which may cause the plant to become diseased. In addition, some nitrogen fertilizer should be applied to the apricot tree to provide it with sufficient nutrients and speed up the healing of the plant's wounds.